The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-16
SKETCH OF WESTMINSTER.

roll county, Maryland, and was founded by
William Winchester in 1854, after whom
it was called until the name was changed
by Act of Assembly to Westminster. The
change was made because the place was
then Frederick County, and a town by the
same name was the county-seat of Freder-
lick County, Virginia, which then Joined
Frederick County in this State. 1t was
incorporated in 1880, and erected into a
city by an Act of Assembly dated Febru-
airy, 1850. n,
Westminster was built in sections. The
original town extended from Mitten's Hill,
which was then the Baltimore County line,
down to Court Street. From Court Street
to where Derr's Building now stands was
laid out about one hundred years ago by
Jacob Sherman, and called New London.
From Derr's to the Grandadam property
was Winters addition; then came the
Grandadam property, that subsequently
became the property of St. Johns Church,
and was laid out into building lots; and
then Pigman's addition. The Town ex-
tended westward with every addition. The
original idea was to have it all on one
street. Alleys were run parallel to the
street for the accommodation Of stables,
and an occasional side alley was laid
out to give access TO them from the
street. The first cross street was laid ont
by Isaac Shriver, father of Francis Shriver.
He purchased the old hotel property at
"The Forks where Zepps store now
stands, and laid out Union Street to con-
meet the two roads, now Pennsylvania
Avenue and West Main St-eet,-an laid
off also a number of building lots. That
section was called Irishtown, name it bore
until recent years, and even now it is oc-
casionally spoken ofjestingly by that name
The original town was a mere hamlet
until the turnpike was finished through to
Pittsburg, called "Pitts" by the teamsters,
when some improvement was made by the
erection of hotels to accommodate the large
number of travellers, and the population
was increased by the settlement of few
persons here The Bank of Westminster
1now the Union National Bank, was es-
tablished in 1916, and the old Union
Church, that now stands in dilapidated
condition in Westminster Cemetery, was
built about the same time.
The town thus stood, with little improve
ment until 1888, when the formation Of a
new county from Frederick and Baltimore
Counties began to be agitated. The Coun-
ty of Carroll was formed in 1887, and the
Jail was built the same year. The Court
House was erected in 1888. The heirs of
David Fisher and Isaac Shriver donated
the land for the county buildings, and
Court Street was laid out on the same land.
The growth of Westminster was steady,
and in 1850 Abner Neal and Col. John X.
Longwell drew up new charter to include
theseveral additions made from time to time,
as noted above, which was passed by the Gen
eral Assembly the same year.
In 1860 the population had increased to
about 1900, but the character of the
churches and buildings was quite ordinary,
with very few exceptions.
The Western Maryland Railroad was
completed through Westminster in 1861,
and this gave the town an impetus, and it
has steadily grown since with solid and
substantial growth. Liberty Street was
laid out by Edward Lynch and DR.. William
A. Matthias, and subsequently Mr.. Lynch
laid out Madison and George Street. In
1868 the death of John Fisher threw a
large amount of land into the market.
From it parts of Green and Centre Streets
were laid out. Edward Lynch continued
Green to Liberty, and George w. Mat
thews continued it westward, opened a part
of Bond Street and donated land for pub
lie square, now known as Belle Grove
Square, which is planted in shade trees
and supplied with seats. Green Street was
continued eastward by John G. Frizell from
from Sycamore to Church, where it met
the original Green Street laid out by Win
chester. John, Carn,ll and part OF Bond
Street was laid off from the Grandadam
property. Centre Street was contiuucd
north in 1877, upon land donated by Col
VIM p. Maulsby and Col. John X. Long
well, and Immediately after Col Longwell
opened Willis street from Court TO Centre
and westward.
From struggling town, of unprepossess-
ing appearance, twenty years ago, it has
grown to be an attractive little city, with
some of the finest business houses and
handsomest residences to be seen out of the
large cities, while no place, perhaps, with a
like population, can boast of so many and
so beautiful churches. Her educational
advantages embrace Theological Seminary,
a College and Public and Private Schools.
A railroad affords frequent and rapid com
munication with Baltimore and other
places, and the telegraph and telephone,
and excellent mail facilities, are other ad-
vantages possessed by the city. The place
has an abundant supply of pure water, so
essential to health, so necessary in time of
fire, and so useful for manufacturing pur-
poses. The climate, too, is unsurpassed by
that of any other place. The citizens
neither experience the extremes of cold in
winter nor of heat in summer, the rude
blasts of winter being tempered by the in
fuence of the Gulf Stream, and its eluva-
ton rendering it pleasant in sumner.
The streets arc lighted by gas, and are
wide and straight. They have recently
been graded and the sidewalks been relaid
to conform to a uniform grade. On several
of the outlying streets much new paving
has been done, and the work will begin
anew this spring. A proposition for
paving the beds of the streets has been
considered for some time, and the Mayor
and Common Council, by vote of the
people, are authorized to have the work
done when suitable plan is decided upon.
The county tax rate is fly cents on the
800, the lowest ofany county in the State,
and the municipal rate is but tuenty cents on
the 800, fire of which are for water, The
debt of the city is insignificant, being only
$4,000 on an assessable basis of 81, 00C, 900.
Westminster has population of 1900,
and is steadily growing. 1t is fayorably
situated on PARIS Ridge, thirty-four miles
from Baltimore by the Western Maryland
Railroad, which runs through the centre of
the city, and twenty eight by turnpike.
The city is governed by Mayor and
Common Council, who are elected annually,
the first Monday in May. The present
officers are: Mayor Milton Schaeffer !;
Common Councilmen, Charles L. Fink,
Coo~,.o ID Gobr O.I,nJo Dooeo Thop,oe